Nerves and Blood Vessels of the Upper Extremity - Chapter 6, Biomechanics

Where do the nerves of the upper extremity originate?

Spinal cord (C1-T1)

What plexus supplies the upper extremity?

Brachial plexus

Which spinal nerve roots typically form the brachial plexus?

C5-T1

What are plexuses?

Networks of nerves

What are the three classifications of nerves?

Motor, sensory, and mixed

What do motor nerves do?

Stimulate muscle contraction

What do sensory nerves do?

Carry sensory information to the CNS

What do mixed nerves contain?

Both motor and sensory fibers

The brachial plexus is divided into what two regions?

Supraclavicular and infraclavicular

What muscles does the dorsal scapular nerve innervate?

Levator scapulae and rhomboids

What spinal levels form the dorsal scapular nerve?

C5

What muscle does the long thoracic nerve innervate?

Serratus anterior

What spinal levels form the long thoracic nerve?

C5-C7

What muscle does the subclavian nerve innervate?

Subclavius

What spinal levels form the subclavian nerve?

C4-C6

What muscles does the suprascapular nerve innervate?

Supraspinatus and infraspinatus

What spinal levels form the suprascapular nerve?

C4-C6

What muscles does the lateral anterior thoracic nerve innervate?

Pectoralis major

What spinal levels form the lateral anterior thoracic nerve?

C5-C7

What muscles does the medial anterior thoracic nerve innervate?

Pectoralis major and pectoralis minor

What spinal levels form the medial anterior thoracic nerve?

C8-T1

What muscles do the upper and lower subscapular nerves innervate?

Subscapularis and teres major

What spinal levels form the subscapular nerves?

C5-C6

What muscle does the thoracodorsal nerve innervate?

Latissimus dorsi

What spinal levels form the thoracodorsal nerve?

C6-C8

What muscles does the musculocutaneous nerve innervate?

Anterior arm muscles

What spinal levels form the musculocutaneous nerve?

C4-C6

What muscles does the axillary nerve innervate?

Deltoid and teres minor

What spinal levels form the axillary nerve?

C5-C6

What muscles does the lateral aspect of the median nerve innervate?

Anterior forearm muscles

What spinal levels form the lateral median nerve?

C5-C7

What muscles does the medial aspect of the median nerve innervate?

Anterior forearm muscles

What spinal levels form the medial median nerve?

C8-T1

What muscles does the ulnar nerve innervate?

Flexor carpi ulnaris and medial hand muscles

What spinal levels form the ulnar nerves?

C8-T1

What muscles does the radial nerve innervate?

Posterior arm and forearm muscles

What spinal levels form the radial nerve?

C5-T1

Compression of what nerve causes tingling in the medial hand?

Median nerve

Where is the ulnar nerve commonly palpated?

Behind the medial epicondyle (funny bone)

Which nerve is often injured with shoulder dislocations?

Axillary nerve

Which artery supplies the upper extremity first?

Subclavian artery

When does the subclavian artery become the axillary artery?

At the lateral border of the first rib

When does the axillary artery become the brachial artery?

At the lower border of teres major

Into what two arteries does the brachial artery divide?

Radial and ulnar arteries

Which artery is commonly used to take a pulse at the wrist?

Radial artery

Which artery runs along the little finger side of the forearm?

Ulnar artery

What does the radial artery contribute to in the hand?

Superficial and deep volar arches

What does the ulnar artery contribute to in the hand?

Superficial and deep volar arches

What arteries supply the fingers?

Digital arteries

Which arch is located on the back of the hand?

Dorsal carpal arch

Which arch is located on the palm?

Superficial volar arch

Which arch lies deepest in the palm?

Deep volar arch

Where is the subclavian pulse palpated?

Above the first rib behind the clavicle

Where is the axillary artery palpated?

Deep in the axilla

Where is the brachial pulse palpated?

Medial upper arm

Where is the radial pulse palpated?

Lateral wrist

Where is the ulnar pulse palpated?

Medial wrist

Veins are divided into what two groups?

Deep and superficial

Name the deep veins of the upper extremity

Subclavian, axillary, brachial, radial, ulnar

Name the three major superficial veins

Basilic, cephalic, median

Which superficial vein runs along the lateral side of the arm?

Cephalic vein

Which superficial vein runs along the medial side of the arm?

Basilic vein

Which vein connects the cephalic and basilic veins?

Median cubital vein

Which vein is commonly used for blood draws?

Median cubital vein

The axillary vein drains into what vein?

Subclavian vein

The subclavian vein joins what vein to form the brachiocephalic vein?

Internal jugular vein

Define plexus

Network of nerves

Define brachial plexus

Nerve network supplying the upper limb

Define supraclavicular

Above the clavicle

Define infraclavicular

Below the clavicle

Define subclavian artery

First major artery to the upper limb

Define axillary artery

Continuation of the subclavian artery

Define brachial artery

Main artery of the arm

Define radial artery

Lateral forearm artery

Define ulnar artery

Medial forearm artery

Define digital arteries

Arteries supplying the fingers

Define deep veins

Veins accompanying arteries

Define superficial veins

Veins located close to the skin

Define cephalic vein

Lateral superficial vein

Define basilic vein

Medial superficial vein

Define median cubital vein

Vein connecting basilic and cephalic veins

The ulnar and radial arteries are branches of which of the following arteries?

• dorsal carpal

• brachial

• volar carpal

• median

Brachial

How many cords of nerves make up the brachial plexus?

• one

• two

• three

• four

Three

The waste material produced by the production of energy within muscle tissue is disposed of through the…

• arteries

• neutralizers

• veins

• kidneys

Veins

Which of the following veins drains directly into the subclavian vein?

• axillary

• ulnar

• brachial

• radial

Axillary

The walls of the blood vessels known as ______ are lined with smooth muscle fibers

Artery walls